The issue of delayed refunds was not a healthy trend and was tarnishing the department's image.
A political economy of poverty and deprivation co-exists with the political economy of environmental degradation and engineered landscape in a military-mining-industrial complex. It remains to be undone, says Gopal Krishna
On August 15th as India celebrates its 63rd independence day, rediff.com presents a colourful tribute to the proud nation.
'Yes, we have come far. We have progressed. Does that give us comfort? Probably, not. We have to solve more complex problems to move forward and we are impatient.'
"Ever since August 15, 1947, India's non-violent struggle for freedom, its rejection of terrorism and extremism, and its belief in democracy, tolerance, and the rule of law have been an inspiration and beacon of hope for people around the world," Obama said on Friday.
As we prepare to celebrate India's 63rd birthday on August 5, we asked readers to identify top five problem areas that India needs to set right immediately.
Normal life remained crippled due to curfew and the shutdown call by separatists groups.
Alden D'Souza struck twice as three time champions Mumbai overcame Haryana 3-2 to regain the 63rd Rangaswamy Cup Senior National Men's Hockey Championship at the floodlit Aishbagh astroturf Stadium in Bhopal on Sunday.
Tamil Nadu finished third at the 63rd Rangaswami Cup Senior National Men's Hockey Championship after edging past Chandigarh 3-2 in the play-off match, which also saw Olympian Adam Sinclair being banned for the next edition of the tournament.
Chandigarh overcame hosts Madhya Pradesh State Hockey Academy (MPSHA )7-5 via the tie-breaker to set up a semi-final clash with former champions Mumbai, in the 63rd Rangaswamy Cup Senior National Hockey Championship at the floodlit Aishbagh Astroturf Stadium, Bhopal on Wednesday.
Group D qualifiers Mumbai overcame a spirited Punjab 4-2 in an absorbing tie to storm into the semi-finals of the 63rd Rangaswamy Cup Senior National Hockey Championship at the floodlit Aishbagh Stadium in Bhopal on Wednesday.
Luis Suarez took just 16 minutes to make his impact on Anfield as the 22.8 million pounds striker came off the bench to score Liverpool's second goal in a 2-0 Premier League win over Stoke City on Wednesday.
India on Sunday paid homage to Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi on his 63rd death anniversary. A series of functions are being organised throughout the country to mark the occasion. In New Delhi, a march against corruption will be taken out to mark the occasion. The protest march will start from Ramlila Maidan and conclude at Jantar Mantar. The protest march will be led by eminent people from all walks of life such as Kiran Bedi, RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal.
World champions Italy, traditional slow starters, began the defence of their World Cup title on Monday by coming from a goal down to earn a 1-1 draw against Paraguay in Group F.
As the 63rd edition of the festival gets underway, Time Magazine has published a list of the Top 10 noteworthy Cannes Film Festival Movies, as a way to trace the festival's rise to prominence.
Leaders Barcelona scored five goals away at their city rivals Espanyol for the first time as they made light of a potentially tricky city derby on Saturday.
The actress will be wearing a sensuous sari designed by Indian designer Rohit Bal for the premiere of French film Tournee (On Tour), directed by Mathieu Amalric, which is competing for festival's top prize, the Palme d'Or.
US President Barack Obama has greeted people of India on the occasion of the country's 63rd Independence Day, saying that a vibrant and promising India has a natural friend in the United States.
Major Mohit Sharma and Major D Sreeram Kumar have been awarded the country's highest peace time gallantry award Ashok Chakra.Major Sharma will be decorated with the Ashok Chakra posthumously.Major Sharma, 31, belonged to the Para Regiment. He was deputed in Rashtriya Rifles in Kashmir. He lost his life along with four others while fighting terrorists in the Hafrada forest of Kupwara district in March this year.Major Sreeram Kumar, 28, is of the Artillery Regiment.
Last year's runners-up Services held on to a Laldingliana penalty to beat fancied Maharashtra 1-0 in a Group B quarter-final league match of the 63rd National Football Championship, for the Santosh Trophy, at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, in Chennai on Wednesday.
Following is the text of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's address from the ramparts of Red Fort on the occasion of Independence Day
India will mark its 63rd birthday on August 15 this year. Today, India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world and is on its way to becoming a considerable force on the global stage.
Real Madrid dug deep in a 3-0 home win against lowly Alaves in the La Liga, but Ligue 1 leaders Paris St Germain their second Ligue 1 loss of the season.
India pumped in four goals in the second half to rout hosts Belgium 6-0 in the third and final hockey Test and clinch the series 2-0 at Wellington, Brussels.
Indian eves squandered a one goal lead to play out a 1-1 draw against Canada in their second game of the four-match Hockey Test series at Tamanawis Park, Surrey.
Reva Electric Car Co unveiled two models, one of them designed by India's celebrated auto designer Dilip Chhabria, at the 63rd Frankfurt International Motor Show on Thursday.
Dempo were virtually crowned as I-League champions after they scored a resounding 2-0 win over Air India in a 24th round match at the Nehru stadium in Margao, Goa, on Wednesday. In a match they dominated completely, Dempo scored through Joaquim Abranches (63rd minute) and Ranty Martins (67th).
Political activities will now be allowed in Pakistan's Federally Administrative Tribal Areas under a slew of reforms unveiled by President Asif Ali Zardari for the Taliban-infested tribal belt in a bid to extricate the lawless region from the grip of militants. Describing the move as a gift to the nation on Pakistan's 63rd Independence Day, Zardari said people in the seven tribal areas can now have an identity as they will be able to participate in political activities.
Riding on a hat-trick by Nigerian striker Odafa Okolie, Churchill Brothers defeated Chirag United 4-2 in their 15th round match of the ONGC I-league football championships at Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Sunday.
Pune FC staged a comeback 2-1 victory over title chasers East Bengal in an I-League Round 22 encounter at the Balewadi Sports Complex, in Pune on Monday.
Services defeated Karnataka 1-0, while Goa hammered Maharashtra 5-0 to complete the semi-final line-up in the 63rd National Football Championship, for the Santosh Trophy, at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, in Chennai on Sunday. Last year's runners-up Services will take on 29 times champions Bengal in the first semi-final on Wednesday while four-time winners Goa face hosts Tamil Nadu in the second last four match on Thursday.
Skipper Abhishek Yadav led from the front as a spirited Mumbai FC posted their second successive win in the I-League football championship by upsetting formidable JCT Phagwara 2-0 in a seventh round match at the Cooperage in Mumbai on Sunday.
Mohun Bagan scored through Marcos Pereiera to bounce back from a goal deficit to edge past hosts Shillong Lajong FC 2-1 in a round five I-League match in Shillong on Thursday.
A round-up of Friday's action in the UEFA Nations League.
Kohli 1st captain to score hat-trick of tons in 3-match series
Smith's player of the match effort of 211 and 82 runs in the two innings has lifted him to 937 rating points, only 10 less than his all-time best aggregate achieved in December 2017.
Ritu Rani scored a hat-trick as India went on a goal-scoring spree to thump Canada 8-1 in their second pool match in the women's Champions Challenge hockey tournament in Kazan, Russia, on Monday.
Goa won the 63rd National Football Championship, for the Santosh Trophy, when they beat 29-time champions Bengal 4-2 via the tie-breaker at the Nehru Stadium, in Chennai, on Sunday. The teams were locked goalless at the end of normal time.
Stoppage time goal takes Goa past TN Goa needed a goal deep into stoppage time to beat hosts Tamil Nadu 1-0 in the semi-finals and set up a title clash with Bengal in the 63rd National Football Championship, for the Santosh Trophy, at the Nehru Stadium, in Chennai, on Thursday. Climax Lawrence scored from a penalty to earn Goa a meeting with Bengal in Sunday's final.
